Rodman back from N. Korea without meeting 'awesome' Kim

Agence France-Presse

Former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman speaks to the media after returning from his trip to North Korea at Beijing airport, December 23, 2013. Photo by Jason Lee, Reuters.

BEIJING - Former NBA star Dennis Rodman returned from North Korea on Monday, saying he did not meet "awesome" Kim Jong-Un on his third visit to the reclusive state but was unfazed by the lack of contact.

The heavily tattooed Rodman has developed an unlikely relationship with Kim since making his first trip in March, when he declared the leader a "friend for life", and is organising an exhibition basketball game on January 8 to mark his birthday.

Asked how he felt about the lack of face-to-face contact with the young ruler after landing at Beijing airport, Rodman said: "I am not worried about it." He added: "I'll see him again."

"He is awesome, man," Rodman said when asked about Kim as he was being ushered out of the airport by security.

"We're going to be playing in two weeks," he added, referring to the match between North Korea and a team of mainly ex-NBA players.

When he left Beijing for Pyongyang last week, Rodman said he would have "a good conversation" with Kim to help the world, without elaborating.

Kim, educated in Switzerland, is reportedly a keen basketball fan, especially of the Chicago Bulls, for whom Rodman played a key role in winning three NBA titles alongside Michael Jordan in the 1990s.

There is growing concern over the regime's stability after the execution earlier this month of Jang Song-Thaek, a high-level official who was the uncle and former political mentor of Kim Jong-Un, but Rodman earlier distanced himself from political events.

He spent much of his time in the North training the country's basketball team, reports said.

The team of former NBA players was expected to be announced during the trip, but no details have yet been given. The sides will face each other in the first half before they are mixed up for the second half, according to reports.

Pyongyang is holding a US citizen, Kenneth Bae, who was sentenced to 15 years in jail on charges of trying to topple the North Korean regime. But US officials said they had not been in touch with Rodman over the visit and he did not represent the US government.

They also reiterated official warnings by the US government to its citizens not to travel to North Korea.